01 October 2023 , 07:00
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Manchester City are ready offload Joao Cancelo to Barcelona for a cut-price fee worth £24.3million.
Cancelo, 29, is currently spending the season on loan at Barca, who were unable to drum up the funds to sign him permanently this summer. City had been demanding around £55m for the Portuguese full-back following a fallout with boss Pep Guardiola in January.
After being loaned out to Bayern Munich for the second half of last term, the German champions weren't willing to sign him on a permanent basis. Barcelona swooped on transfer deadline day and secured a loan deal, with negotiations regarding a full switch continuing over the course of September.
The Daily Star report that City have now reduced their demands and will sell Cancelo for less than half of their original asking price. Barca are facing well-documented financial issues but the 29-year-old's early performances under Xavi have already convinced them to sign him.
In his first five La Liga appearances, Cancelo has scored two goals and registered one assist, and on Friday helped his new team to a 1-0 win at home to Sevilla, putting in an impressive performance both in defence and attack. The Portugal international's arrival, coupled with Joao Felix's, has given new life to Xavi's side, who currently sit top of the Spanish table.
Pep Guardiola went back on his word after blocking last-ditch Barcelona transfer
"We are talking about two players whose individual quality is beyond doubt," Xavi recently declared. "You see them train and you see their greatness. Cancelo comes from a coach (Guardiola) who for me is the best and he interprets everything very well.
Have your say! Will Manchester City regret selling Joao Cancelo? Let us know your prediction in the comments section.
Joao Cancelo has made a fast start to life at Barcelona (Colas Buera / Pressinphoto / Icon Sport)"We have spoken to him and he has understood. With Joao Felix we watched a video with him yesterday. They both give variants that make the team better. Physically, they are strong. They raise the quality of the team, which in general has been very good."
Despite Cancelo and Guardiola's relationship breaking down, the City manager was open to keeping him in his squad, having taken him on their pre-season tour of Asia. "He is here. Joao has been so important for us in the past," Guardiola declared. "He is back here and is part of the group. We will see what happens."
Cancelo was keen for a new challenge, though, and the Benfica youth product explained upon moving to Barcelona: "I'm going to do everything to explode at Barca. I'll try to show my football, my quality, but always with the help of the team."
The right-back, who can also play on the left-hand side, told Movistar after beating Sevilla: "I'm trying my best to help the team, everyone is doing well."